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Monday, 16 May 2016

Book Musings - An Autograph for Anjali by Sundari Venkatraman

Jayant Mathur is found murdered in his bed, shot at point-blank range with his own revolver. Though she’s extremely disturbed by his death, Jayant’s wife Anjali is way more upset about something else. Who stands to gain by killing the multi-millionaire businessman?

Parth Bhardwaj is a friend and neighbour of the Mathurs. Parth is an author who goes by a pseudonym. He appears more than a friend to Anjali; while he’s also on good terms with her son Arjun who lives and studies in the UK. What role does he play in Anjali’s life? Jayant’s relatives are curious to know.

Jayant’s brother-in-law Rana is convinced that Parth and Anjali are the murderers. But Inspector Phadke has his own doubts about this theory. In comes Samrat, the private detective who appears as quiet as a mouse. Will he be able to find the murderer?

Will Anjali find happiness and peace?

My Musings:

Another first-time author read for me. I was expecting a mystery kind of a read from the blurb. The story was more of a romance read and less of a mystery. But the author really did justice to the story and the characters. The story didn't disappoint me at all with the complex characters. It has certainly whetted my appetite for the author's other books.

The story was written in episode-like chapters which hooked me and reeled me in with its steady pace. The book had a movie like feel to it with the starting being in the present and then the middle being a flashback style story followed by the unveiling of the murderer in the present again. It was easy to follow and the story had me engrossed with the complexity of the plot. The only complaint I had was that the flashback ended up taking more than 60% of the story. I know that it played a major role in understanding the characters but I felt that more stage could have been to the solving of the crime.

The characters felt real with their emotions and their troubles. They perfectly reflected the society. Anjali was a strong heroine with a steel backbone and determination to get out of her hell of a life. Parth was charismatic, bold and confident. But I felt a mild distaste when he kind of overwhelmed Anjali with his affections in certain scenes. I felt he was a bit forceful and wasn't mindful of her situation. Jayant was the right villain and I think he was more of an embodiment of the mind-set of males in the society. I so hated him because of his so called superiority. Arjun was a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect him to be so understanding of his mother and at the same time, he kind of turned me off with his emotional outbursts.

The story was well written and I didn't feel the time pass and I was at the end quickly. I can see myself reading more of the author's tales.